Toe lasting machines



June 6, 1961 A. J. GILBRIDE TOE LASTING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 14, 1959 www# Urn..q im? Git www? hmm www QM.. A Pw.

June 6, 1961 A. J. GILBIDE 2,986,753

TOE LASTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 14, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 6, 1961 A. J. GILBRIDE 2,986,753

TOE LASTING MACHINES Filed DSC. 14, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 6, 1961 A. J. GILBRIDE TOE LASTING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 14, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 14, 1959 Fig. a

United Statesl PatentI 2,986,753 c TOE LASTING MACHINES Andrew J. Gilbride, Swampscott, Massi, asslgnor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, NJ., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Dec. 14, 1959, Ser. No. 859,485 Claims. (Cl. 12-8.2)

This invention relates to toe lasting machines, and particularly to a novel and improved toe band and operating mechanism therefor which is herein illustrated as embodied in a toe lasting machine of the type disclosed and claimed in an application for United States Letters Patent Serial No. 789,103, tiled January 26, 1959 in the name of the present applicant. It should be understood, of course, that in their broader aspects features of the invention are not necessarily limited to use in a toe lasting machine of that particular type or to the exact mechanical construction shown.

In the machine disclosed in the above-mentioned application, the toe end of the shoe being lasted is clamped against a shoe support or toe rest and the upper is wiped upwardly around and thus shaped to the toe end of the last on which it is mounted by means of a flexible toe band, which is conformable to the toe end of the last, as a result of relative heightwise movement between the toe band and the toe end of the shoe on the shoe support, whereupon the lasting margin of the upper is wiped inwardly over and pressed against the bottom of the toe end of the insole by means of toe lasting wipers associated with a wiping head on which the toe band is mounted. During the mentioned upwiping action, the flexible toe band, which comprises a band of synthetic plastic material having a low coeicient of friction and supported on a flexible chain, is wrapped around and held yieldingly against the upper around the toe end of the last by forces applied to its opposite ends by means of a pair of duid pressure operated pistons.

While the toe band and operating mechanism arrangement of this prior machine operates in a satisfactory manner, it may not always be possible in the lasting of shoes on lasts of various styles, to obtain the most advantageous application of force to the upper by the toe band at different locations around the toe end of the last during the upwiping operation, nor is entirely suitable support for the band of synthetic plastic material provided by the exible and articulated supporting chain. Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide a novel and irnproved toe band and operating mechanism therefor by the use of which the mentioned ditcultes may be avoided. With the above object in view, and in accordance with features of the invention, in the herein illustrated toe lasting machine, which has a support for the toe end of the shoe being lasted, a wiper head, toe wipers, and a flexible band adapted to conform to the toe end of the shoe, there are provided power operated means for exerting a force on each end of the toe band in a direction to wrap the band yieldingly around the toe end of the shoe, together with an additional power operated means for exerting forces on the toe band in two locations adjacent to and at the opposite sides of the toe end of the band during relative heightwise movement between the band and the support. More particularly, the toe band comprises a substantially U-shaped strip of spring steel to which there is secured a facing of polytetrauoroethylene, hereinafter referred to as Teflon, substantially triangular inv cross section to provide a relatively narrow operating edge, While separate uid pressure operated means are provided for exerting forces, respectively, on the end portions of the band and at ltwo locations adjacent to and at Patented June 6, 1961 the opposite sides of the toe end of the band, together with separate means for varying the pressure of the operating fluid supplied to each of the uid pressure operated means. With the foregoing novel arrangement, the toe band is better supported, because of the inherent resilience of the spring steel strip to which the facing of Teflon is secured, and, by appropriately regulating the strength of the forces applied, respectively, by the two uid pressure operated means in the locations indicated, the action of the toe band on the upper during the upwiping operation may be readily controlled to suit widely varying operating conditions which may be encountered in the lasting of shoes on lasts of different styles.

The above and other objects and features of this invention will appear in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a toe lasting makICC v chine provided with the improved toe band and toe band operating mechanism of this invention with certain parts of the machine broken away and others omitted in order to simplify the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation and with certain parts in vertical section of that portion of the toe lasting ma, chine which is shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views in plan of certain of the elements of the toe band operating mechanism illustrating successive stages in the operation of the machine; t

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are views in side elevation and with certain parts shown in vertical section of the toe band and portions of its operating mechanism in different positions assumed during the operation of the machine.

FIG. 8 is a view partly in vertical section of a piston and cylinder associated with the toe band operating mech anism;

FIG. 9 is a similar view of another cylinder also associated with the toe band operating mechanism;

FIG. l0 is a view in perspective of the improved toe band; and

FIG. l1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the iluid pressure system for operating the toe band.

Referring to these drawings, the improved toe band and operatingmechanism therefor is illustrated as em-v bodied in a toe lasting machine of the so-called bed lasting machine type and which may be similar to the machine disclosed in the above-mentioned application. Thus, the machine hasthe usual lasting wipers 20, 20, FIG. 4, carried by wiper holders 22, 22 which are mounted for advancing and closing movements on a wiper head 24 by means including cam slots 26, 26 in the holders and cam rolls 28, 28 on the wiper head, FIG.'1.' The wiper head is mounted for angular adjusting movement on a carriage 30, in the usual manner, and this car; riage is slidably supported for rectilinear adjustment on an arm 32, FIG. 2. Slidable withina bore 34 which extends through a portion of the wiper head, is a hollow wiper operating rod 36 which has formed integrally there; with and at its *right-hand end a crosshead 38 and which at its other end is connected to one arm of a bell-crank forelecting heightwise'movement of the wiper head and -wipers relatively to the toeend of a shoe being lasted.

As in the prior machine, the shoe being lasted, herein illustrated as comprising an upper U assembled on -a last L, together with .an insole I, is supported on a toe rest 4S, FIGS. A5, 6 and 7, and the wipers 20, 20 are utilized only for'wiping the lasting margin of the'upper inwardly over and for pressing it against the bottomface of the insole at the toe end of the Ashoe while the shaping of the upper to the toe end of thelast is eiected .by means of a novel and improved toe lband which is indicated generally by the reference character 50. This .toe band comprises a strip 51 of suitable synthetic plastic material having an extremely low coefficient offriction, high heat insulating characteristics, and sufficient abrasion resistance to stand up under continued 'use such, for example, as polytetrauoroethylene, herein referred to as Teflon which is of generally triangular shape in cross section to provide a relatively narrow operating edge 52, see FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 10. This strip of plastic material, which has some degree of resilience, is supported throughout its entire length and for substantially allof its width or height, by means of a relatively thin band.54 of resilient spring steel to which the strip is secured by rivets 56, 56, FIG. l0. Secured to the ends of this steel band are two radially extending ears 58, 58, each provided with an aperture 60, and a resilient abutment 62.l

Slidable within the bore 34 in the wiper operating rod 36 is a second rod 70 to the right-hand end of which is secured, by means of a screw 72, a block 74 of the shape shown in FIGS. 2, 5, 6 and 7. Projecting into a groove 76 formed in this block is a pin 78 against which theresilient abutment 62 on the toe band is adapted'to bear when the lower edge of the mid portion of the toe band is supported on the block 74 and within an arcuate groove 80 formed thereon. At its outer ends, the toe band is supported by means of the ears 58, 58 which are received in grooves formed in the outer ends '82, `82 of two links 84, 84, the ears being secured to the links by means of spring-loaded pins 86, 86, FIGS. l, 2, 3 and 4. As will be apparent, when these pins are withdrawn, against the resistance of leaf springs 88, 88, the toe band may be swung downwardly, i. e., clockwise as viewed in FIGS. 2, 5, 6 and 7, thus to withdraw the abutment 62 from beneath the pin 78, whereupon the band may be lifted ol the block 74. At their inner ends, the links 84, 84 are connected to an equalizing lever 90, FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, which ispivotally mounted on an operating lever 92 by means of a pin 94. This operating lever, in turn, is pivotally mounted at one end, by means of a stud 96, on the lower side of the wiper head 24. Midway between their opposite ends, the links 84, 84 are supported on ledges formed by shouldered blocks 98, 98 which are secured to the lower side of the wiper head, FIG. 1.

Also secured to the lower side of the wiper head is a bracket 100 which is clamped, together with another bracket 102, see FIG. l, to the head 104 at one end of a cylinder 106, by means of a nut 108, FIG. 9. Slidable within the cylinder 106 is a piston 110 having a piston rod 112 which extendsout'through the cylinder head 104. A coil spring 114, contained within this cylinder, is adapted to urge the piston 110 yieldingly toward the left and into engagement with a cylinder head '116 on the other end of the cylinder. Connected to a port 118 in the cylinder head 116, by means of a tting 120, is a conduit 122, see also FIG. 1. A coil spring 124, stretched between the lever 92 and the bracket' 102, yieldingly holds this lever in the position shown in FIG. l and with its upper end in engagement with a collar 126 onthe end `of the pistonrod 112. Movement `oithe block 74, and hence the toe band 50 to the left, FIGS. 1 and 2, is also limited bythe engagement of an adjustable stop nut 130, threaded onto the left-hand end of the rod 70, with an upstanding abutment member 132 which is securedto the carriage`30, FIG. 2, and through which the threaded end of the rod-70 projects. A coil spring 134-interposed `between this abutment and another nut 136 which is also threaded on the rod 70 tends to hold the rod 70, block 74, and toe band 50 yieldingly in the retracted position shown in FIGS. l and 2, thus augmenting the actionof the spring 124 in this respect. Threaded into thefabutment132below the rod 70, is a stop screw V13:8.havingan enlarged head ,139, for limiting movement of the rod 70 and therefore of the toe band to the right by engagementwith stop nut 130.

Each of the links 84 at its outer end 82 is provided with a slot 140 which is disposed at an angle to the longitudinal laxis of the rod 70 and hence to the direction of `movement of the toe band 50.

Projecting upwardly through each of these slots is a pin 142 carried by one arm of a lever 144 pivotally mounted on the lower side of the wiper head 24 by means of a stud 146, FIG. 1. The other arm of each of these levers is held in engage- `mentwith the knurled head 148 of an adjusting screw 150, threaded intoan ear on the plate 98, by means of a coil spring152. As will be apparent, by suitable rotation of ytheadjusting screws v150, 150, the outer ends of the toe band 50 may be moved toward or away from each other thereby opening or closing the toe band to accommodate shoes of different sizes. Also, when the lever 92 is swung ,in a clockwisedirection, as the result of the admission of iluid under pressure, such as compressed air, into the cylinder 106, and the links 84, 84 thus moved to the right, FIGS. 1 and 2, the outer ends of the toe band 50 will be moved toward each other to close the band around the sides of the toe end of the shoe being lasted as a result of theaction of the pins 142, 142 on the'slots 140, 140.

Journaled in each of two laterally projecting portions of the block 74 is a shaft 160, FIGS. 3 and 4. Into the upper and lower portions, respectively, of one of these shafts are two arms 164,-166, while pinned to the upper land lower'portions, respectively, of the other shaft are twoarms 168 and 170. These arms are shaped and arrangedin cross-over relation, as shown in FIGS. 3 and\4. The arm-164 is connected by'means of a pin 172 to the rod 4174 of a piston 176, FIG. 8. This piston is slidably received within a cylinder 178 and is yieldingly urged to the right by Ya coil spring 180. The arm 168, on the other hand, is connected by means of two trunnion pins 182, 182 to the end of the cylinder 178 which is opposite to the end through which the piston rod 174, mentioned above projects. Connected to a passage 184 formed in this end of the cylinderis a conduit 186. Supported on and extending upwardly from .the operating end of the arm 166 ,is a post-190 on the upper end of which there is pivotally mounteda-.pressure pad 192. Similarly, a post 194 is supported on4 and projects upwardly from the operating end ofthe :arm 170.and a pressure pad 196 is pivotally mounted on the upperend of this post.

Referring to FIG. 11, when theimproved toe band and operating mechanism described .above are applied to a machine of the type disclosed in the above-mentioned application, the conduits 122 and 186 will each beconnected to a main `pressure supplyingconduit 200 (corresponding to the yconduit 834, FIG. 11 of the drawings of the above-mentioned application). In order to provide for separately controlling the forces `applied on the ends of the band 50 yby the piston .110and the forces applied to ,the toe band in two locations adjacent `to and at the opposite `sides of its mid-portion by the Vpiston `176 and cylinder 178, adjustable pressure reducing valves 202, 204 of conventional constructionareinterposed in the conduits 122 and 186, as diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 11.

Except as noted below, the herein illustrated machine operates in the same manner as -the machine of the prior application. Thus, as the operator initially moves the wiper operating hand 1ever, not shown, but corresponding to the lever '54 of themachine of the prior application,

asserita vair under pressure will be admitted to the cylinders 10,6

ltoe rest 48 is effected, as a result of upward swinging movement of the arm 32 by 'means including the link 46, the upper U at the `toe end of' the shoe will be wiped upwardly around and shaped to the toe end of the last L by the toe band 50 the operating edge 52 of which is held yieldingly in engagement with the upper by the forces applied to the opposite ends of the band by the piston 110 and at the two locations adjacent to and at the opposite sides of its mid portion by the piston 176 and cylinder 178. FIG. 6 illustrates the position of the toe band at the conclusion of the upwiping operation, while FIG. 7 shows the wipers after they have been advanced and closed to wipe the lasting margin of the upper inwardly over the toe end of the bottom of the insole I and as they are applying pressure to the lasting margin to press it against the insole.

Because of the inherent resiliency of the spring steel strip 54, which supports the Teon facing 51 and which is shaped generally to correspond to the shape of the toe end of the particular style of last being handled, i.e., square, round or pointed toe, and as the result of the application of controlled forces to the toe band in the locations mentioned and by separate fluid pressure operated means in the manner indicated, it is possible to cause the toe band to conform very closely to the toe end of the shoe during its entire unwiping operation. Also, a very rm and uniform support for the Teflon facing 51, which has little inherent resiliency, is provided, which tends to increase the life of the -facing strip very considerably. By using this synthetic plastic material, which :has an extremely low coefficient of friction, the upwiping operation is greatly facilitated and all danger of marking or otherwise damaging the surface of even the softest or even most delicate upper materials is avoided.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a toe lasting machine having a support for the toe end of a shoe being lasted, a wiper head, toe lasting wipers, and a flexible toe band adapted to conform to the toe end of a shoe and to shape the upper of the shoe to the toe end of its last during relative heightwise movement between the shoe support and the wiper head, power operated means for exerting a force on each of the ends of said band in a direction to wrap the band yieldingly around the toe end of the shoe and an additional power operated means for exerting forces on the toe band in two locations adjacent to and at the opposite sides of the mid portion of the band, during such relative heightwise movement between the shoe support and the wiper head.

2. In a toe lasting machine having a support for the toe end of a shoe being lasted, a wiper head, toe lasting wipers, and a iiexible toe band adapted to conform to the toe end of a shoe and to shape the upper of the shoe to the toe end of its last during relative heightwise movement between the shoe support and the wiper head, fluid pressure operated means for exerting a force on each of the ends of said band in directions -to wrap the band yieldingly around the toe end of the shoe and an additional fluid pressure operated means for exerting forces on the toe band in two locations adjacent to and at the opposite sides of the mid portion of the band, during such relative heightwise movement between the shoe support and the wiper head, and separate means for varying the pressure of operating iiuid supplied to each of said uid pressure operated means.

3. In a toe lasting machine having a support `for the toe end of a shoe being lasted, a wiper head, toe wipers 6 and a flexible toe band comprising a relatively thin resilient strip of metal with a facing of synthetic plastic material having a low coefficient of friction and shaped to provide a relatively narrow operating edge secured therevto adapted to conform to the toe end of the shoe and to shape the upper of the shoe to the toe end of its last during relative heightwise movement between the shoe support and the wiper head, fluid pressure operated means for exerting a force on each of the ends of said band in 'a direction to wrap the'band yieldingly around the toe end of the shoe and an additional uid pressure operated means for exerting forces on the toe band in two locations adjacent to and at the opposite sides of the mid portion of the band, during such relative heightwise movement between the shoe support and the wiper head.

4. In a toe lasting machine having a support for the toe end of a shoe being lasted, -a wiper head, toe wipers and a exible -toe band comprising a relatively thin resilient strip of metal with a facing of synthetic plastic material having a low coetlicient of .friction and shaped to provide a relatively narrow operating edge secured thereto adapted to conform to the toe end of the shoe and to shape the upper of the shoe to the toe end of its last during relative heightwise movement between the shoe support and the wiper head, fluid pressure operated means for exerting a force on each of the ends of said band in a direction to wrap the band yieldingly around the toe end of the shoe and an additional huid pressure operated means for exerting forces on the toe band in two locations adjacent to and at the opposite sides of the mid portion of the band, during such relative heightwise movement between the shoe support and the wiper head, and separate means for varying the pressure of operating uid supplied to each of said fluid pressure operated means.

5. In a toe lasting machine having a support for the toe end of a shoe being lasted, a wiper head, toe wipers and a flexible toe band comprising a relatively thin strip of resilient metal with -a lfacing of polytetrauoroethylene shaped to provide a relatively narrow operating edge secured thereto adapted to conform to the toe end of a shoe and to shape the upper of the shoe to the toe end of its last during relative heightwise movement between the shoe support and the wiper head, uid pressure operated means for exerting a force on each of the ends of said band in a direction to wrap the band yieldingly around the toe end of the shoe and an additional fluid pressure operated means for exerting forces on the toe band in two locations adjacent to and at the opposite sides of the mid portion of the band, during such relative heightwise movement between the shoe support and the wiper head.

6. In a toe lasting machine having a support for the toe end 'of a shoe being lasted, a wiper head, toe wipers and a flexible toe band comprising a relatively thin strip of resilient metal with a facing of polytetrauoroethylene shaped to provide a relatively narrow operating edge secured thereto adapted to conform to the toe end of a shoe and to shape the upper of the shoe to the toe end of its last during relative heightwise movement between the shoe support and the wiper head, uld pressure operated means for exerting a force on each of the ends of said band in a direction to wrap the band yieldingly around the toe end of the shoe and an additional fluid pressure operated means for exerting forces on the toe band in two locations adjacent to and at the opposite sides of the mid portion of the band, during such relative heightwise movement between the shoe support and the wiper head, and separate means for varying the pressure of operating uid supplied to each of said uid pressure operated means.

7. A toe band for use in a toe lasting machine comprising a substantially U-shaped strip of resilient metal having secured thereto a facing of synthetic plastic material having a relatively low coeicient of friction shaped to provide a narrow operating edge.

8, A toe band for use in a toe lasting machine compris- .ing a substantially U-shaped Vstrip ofresilient metal having secured .thereto a .facingnof polytetrauoroethylene shaped to-provide a narrow operating edge.

9. A toe band for-usefin a toe lastingmachnecompnsing a substantially U-shaped stripof resilient metal 5 having secured thereto a facing `of non-metallicfmateral having a relatively low coecient of friction Vand Of-substahtially triangular cross section Y.tol provide a .narrowoperating edge.

10. A toe band for use in a toe lasting Amachnecom- 10 121354586 References Cited in the lefofxhs patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Disclaimer 2,986,753.-Andrew J. Gz'lmfae, Swampscott, Mass. TOE LASTING MACHINES. Patent dated June 6, 1961. Disclaimer filed. Nov. 12, 1965, by the assignee, United Shoe Machinery Oef/'poration Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 7-10 of said patent. [Oficial Gazette May 3, 1.966.] 

